Method and system for providing enhanced caller identification

ABSTRACT

A system ( 100 ) and method deliver audible caller identification information when standard Caller ID information can not be provided, even when a subscriber to the service has per line blocking. A service control point ( 106 ) detects the directory number to which a terminating attempt trigger is assigned and places this directory number in a parameter for transmission to a service switching point ( 102 ) using a forward_call message ( 206 ). The per line blocking function does not interfere with transmission of this parameter so that the called party&#39;s directory number can be passed for processing and call completion by the system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This patent application is a continuation-in-part of applicationSer. No. 09/122,484, filed Jul. 24, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to telecommunicationsservices and more particularly to caller identification.

[0003] Telecommunications service providers typically offer servicesthat attempt to provide customers with information that enables them todetermine whether or not to accept a call before answering the call. Oneservice that provides such information is caller identification (“CallerID”). Standard Caller ID services generally provide a customer with anindication of who is calling without requiring the customer to answerthe call. These systems typically retrieve information about the callingparty from a database and provide that information to the called party.Customer premise equipment (CPE) in the form of a display device isgenerally used to provide the called party with a visual readout of thename and/or telephone number associated with the calling party.

[0004] However, the effectiveness of Caller ID systems can be reduceddue to a number of different occurrences. One such occurrence is theinability of a service provider to provide the standard Caller IDinformation for a particular incoming call. A service provider may notbe able to provide the standard Caller ID information if the Caller IDinformation is blocked by the calling party, or if the Caller IDinformation is unavailable or incomplete. Also, the service provider maynot be able to provide the standard Caller ID information if the call ismarked “Private,” indicating that the calling party has taken steps tosuppress transmission of Caller ID information. This may be done, forexample, by pressing *67 when initiating a call

[0005] When the standard Caller ID information cannot be provided, thecalled party is not adequately informed about who is calling and cannotdetermine whether or not to accept the incoming call before answeringthe call. Because the effectiveness of Caller ID systems is greatlyreduced when information cannot be provided, an improved system andmethod for providing caller identification information that overcomethese deficiencies are needed.

[0006] patent application Ser. No. 09/122,484, filed Jul. 24, 1998 andcommonly assigned to the assignee of the present application, isincorporated herein by reference. This patent application discloses amethod and system for providing a called party with audible calleridentification information when standard caller identification cannot beprovided. When standard caller identification cannot be provided, thecall is blocked and a request for audible caller identification istransmitted to the calling party. The audible information issubsequently transmitted to the called party.

[0007] The effectiveness of this system is limited in telecommunicationsystems which provide per line blocking of Caller ID information. Whenper line blocking is activated for a subscriber line, the Caller IDinformation for that line is never transmitted by the system. However,the system described in patent application Ser. No. 09/122,484 requirescommunication of the called party's identification information among theequipment of the system for proper operation. If per line blocking ispresent, the disclosed system can not process the call. Customers whohave selected per line blocking, for privacy or other purposes, can notuse the described caller identification system of patent applicationSer. No. 09/122,484.

[0008] Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method whichpermits provision of either text or audible caller identificationinformation even to a customer who subscribes to a per line blockingservice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a telecommunications system; and

[0010]FIG. 2 is a call flow diagram illustrating a method for processinga call in the telecommunications system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] By way of introduction, the preferred embodiments described belowinclude a method and system for providing a called party with audiblecaller identification information when standard caller identificationinformation cannot be provided, even when the called party subscribes toa per line blocking service. In one embodiment, calls for which standardcaller identification information is blocked, unavailable or incompleteare prevented from being connected to the called party. A forward callmessage is transmitted with the directory number of the called partycontained in a normally unused data field. A presentation indicator forthe directory number is set in the forward call message to presentationallowed so that blocking of the called party's identificationinformation does not occur.

[0012] In response to the forward call message, a request for audiblecaller identification information is transmitted to the calling party.If the calling party provides the requested audible calleridentification information, the audible information is transmitted tothe called party. Caller identification information can thus be providedto the called party when standard caller identification informationcannot be provided, even in the presence of per line blocking of thecustomer's identification information.

[0013] Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of atelecommunications system 100. The system 100 comprises a serviceswitching point (SSP) 102, a signal transfer point (STP) 104, a servicecontrol point (SCP) 106, a first SCP database 108, a second SCP database110, a compact service node (CSN) 112, a central office 114, calledtelephone station 116 and calling telephone station 118. Intelligentnetwork system components, commonly referred to as advanced intelligentnetwork (AIN) components, suitable for implementing the presentembodiment are commercially available from several vendors and are knownto those skilled in the art. AIN components can implement computerreadable program code as known to those skilled in the art. Vendors ofAIN components typically have a preferred programming language andoperating platform as known to those skilled in the art.

[0014] SSP 102 preferably comprises an AIN switch that routes calls,recognizes and responds to triggers, generates queries to obtain callinformation and responds to returned call information. SSP 102 connectscalled telephone station 116 with central office 114 to enable calls tobe placed between called telephone station 116 and calling telephonestation 118. SSP 102 preferably communicates with SCP 106, centraloffice 114 and CSN 112 by utilizing a signaling protocol such asSignaling System 7 (SS7) or other such signaling protocols as presentlyknown to those skilled in the art or developed in the future. SSP 102preferably generates queries to SCP 102 and receives and responds toresponses to the queries returned from SCP 106. In the illustratedembodiment, communication between the SSP 102 and the SCP 106 employsTransaction Capabilities Applications Protocol or TCAP.

[0015] STP 104 preferably comprises a network element that transferssignaling communications in response to signaling protocols such as SS7or other such signaling protocols as presently known to those skilled inthe art or developed in the future. STP 104 preferably transfers queriesfrom SSP 106 to SCP 106 and transfers responses to the queries from SCP106 to SSP 102.

[0016] SCP 106 preferably comprises an AIN element that stores callinformation and receives and responds to queries. SCP 106 preferablystores call control information in the first SCP database 108 and canaccess the stored call control information. SCP 106 also stores standardcaller identification information in the second SCP database 110 and canaccess the stored caller identification information. SCP 106 receivesqueries generated by SSP 102 and preferably responds to the queries byperforming database searches to locate the requested call controlinformation or caller identification information as known to thoseskilled in the art. SCP 106 can forward the call control information orcaller identification information to SSP 102.

[0017] CSN 112 preferably comprises a network element that enablescommunications between telephone stations 116, 118 and the network. CSN112 can preferably transmit messages to and receive responses fromtelephone stations 116, 118. CSN 112 can generate announcements that canbe transmitted to telephone stations 116, 118. CSN 112 can transmitresponses such as audible caller identification information fromtelephone station 118 to telephone station 116 by connecting telephonestations 118, 116 or by recording and playing back the responses asknown to those skilled in the art. The announcements transmitted totelephone station 116 preferably comprise accept and reject optionsalong with requests for input from the telephone station 116. Therequests for input preferably comprise requests for input that can beused by CSN 112 to cancel calls to telephone station 116, connect callsto telephone station 116, forward calls to a voice mail system oranother location such as another telephone line, and transmit messagesto telephone station 118. As used herein, the term voice mail systemmeans all types of message recording systems as known to those skilledin the art. CSN 112 can preferably receive and respond to the inputtransmitted from telephone station 116. The term input means anysuitable signal such as DTMF tones, voice input, dial pulse input ormodem/fax input as known to those skilled in the art.

[0018] In alternative embodiments, other system equipment may providethe functions provided by CSN 112. For example, equivalent functionalitymay be provided by an AIN service node or by an Intelligent Peripheral,as those terms are understood in the art. These components and otherswhich are operationally equivalent may be substituted for the CSN 112 inFIG. 1.

[0019] Database 108 preferably comprises a data storage element for usewith SCP 106 as known to those skilled in the art. Database 108preferably stores call control information that can be implemented bySSP 102 to control calls. Such call control information is known tothose skilled in the art.

[0020] Database 110 preferably comprises a standard calleridentification with name database as known to those skilled in the art.Database 110 preferably includes the name of the person associated withcalling telephone station 118 along with the telephone number that isassociated with calling telephone station 118. Database 110 canalternatively comprise a caller assistance database as known to thoseskilled in the art. While databases 108, 110 are depicted within atelecommunications system, databases 108, 110 can comprise any suitabledatabases containing information adapted for use in the presentembodiment and are not limited to databases located within atelecommunications network. It is also important to note that whiledatabases 108, 110 are shown as separate components, they can beimplemented as a single database.

[0021] Central office 114 preferably comprises an AIN network switch asknown to those skilled in the art. Central office 114 enables calls tobe placed between calling telephone station 118 and called telephonestation 116. Alternatively, central office 114 can comprise a non-AINnetwork switch as known to those skilled in the art.

[0022] Telephone stations 116, 118 preferably comprise analog telephonesets as known to those skilled in the art. Alternatively, telephonestations 116, 118 can comprise wireless, PCS, ISDN or any other form ofcommunication station known to those skilled in the art. Calledtelephone station 116 preferably includes CPE equipment for use withcaller identification services as known to those skilled in the art.

[0023]FIG. 2 is a call flow diagram illustrating a method for processinga call in the telecommunications system 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 2illustrates communication between SSP 102, SCP 106 and CSN 112 forprocessing the call.

[0024] At step 202, the calling party at the calling telephone station118 calls the directory number (DN) of the called communication station116. The calling party may choose to enable Calling Number DeliveryBlocking, for example, by dialing *67 before dialing the DN of thecalled communication station 116. This will block delivery of thestandard caller ID information for the calling telephone station 118. Insome systems, portions of the telecommunications system 100 such as thetrunk group terminating the call may not pass the standard Caller IDinformation.

[0025] At step 204, the terminating SSP 102 recognizes that aterminating attempt trigger (TAT) is assigned to the called directorynumber. In response to the TAT, the SSP 102 creates aTermination_Atttempt query message and transmits the query message tothe SCP 106 for analysis. In the illustrated embodiment using AINelements, the query message is formatted according to AIN Release 0.1TCAP. The query message includes several parameters as is known to thoseordinarily skilled in the art. For the Termination_Atttempt querymessage, the following parameters are specified: UserID DN to which theTAT is assigned (Called DN) BearerCapability 01 (3.1 KHz) CalledPartyIDDN to which the TAT is assigned (Called DN) Lata Local Access andTransport Area of Called DN TriggerCriteriaType 15 (terminating attempt)CalledPartyStationType Originating Line Information of the Called DNChargeNumber ANI of the originating facility or ANI of last forwardingstation, if available CallingPartyID DN of the calling party (ifavailable) Presentation Restriction 01 (Presentation Restricted) 10(Number Unavailable) ChargePartyStationType Originating Line Informationof the calling DN OriginalCalledPartyID First party that redirected thecall RedirectingPartyID Last party that redirected the call

[0026] If the calling party has blocked the standard Caller IDinformation, or if the system does not pass the standard Caller IDinformation for the calling communication station, the CallingPartylDparameter of the TAT query message will not be available. ThePresentation Restriction Indicator parameter will be set to one of thebinary values 01 or 10 to indicate this condition. This is in contrastto the situation in which the standard Caller ID information isavailable and the Presentation Restriction Indicator parameter is set to00, to indicate presentation allowed.

[0027] In response to the Termination_Attempt query, the SCP 106 willvalidate the Presentation Restriction Indicator parameter of theCallingPartyID parameter. If the indicator is set to PresentationRestriction (01) or Number Unavailable (10), the SCP 106 will passrouting information to the SSP 102 in a Forward_Call response message,step 206. In the illustrated embodiment using AIN elements, the responsemessage is formatted according to AIN Release 0.1 TCAP. The responsemessage includes several parameters as is known to those ordinarilyskilled in the art.

[0028] In a first embodiment, for the Forward_Call query message, thefollowing parameters are specified: CallingPartyID DN to which the TATis assigned (Called DN from the Termination_Attempt query withpresentation allowed) CalledPartyID Lead DN from the Basic RateInterface (BRI) connecting the CSN PrimaryCarrier 0110 (LEC) AMAslpID008780000 (uniquely identifies a service and indicates flat rate)

[0029] Thus, in this first embodiment, the SCP 106 detects theCalledPartyID parameter of the Termination_Attempt query received fromthe SSP 102. As noted above, this parameter is set to the DN of thecalled party, or the directory number of the called telephone station.The SCP 106 places this value in the Forward_Call response for theCallingPartyID parameter. The CallingPartylD parameter of theForward_Call response has an associated Presentation RestrictionIndicator parameter. The SCP 106 marks this Presentation RestrictionIndicator as presentation allowed.

[0030] In this manner, the system and method according to the firstembodiment avoids the problems that arise when the called partysubscribes to a per line blocking service. When per line blocking isactivated, the system equipment including the SCP 106 and the SSP 102 isprevented from transmitting the Caller ID information for the calledparty. In subsequent processing by the system 100, the SSP 102 lacks thecalled telephone station directory number to complete the call back tothe called telephone station. In the illustrated embodiment, the calledtelephone station DN is read from the TAT query and placed in theCallingPartyID parameter of the Forward_Call response. The SSP 102 cansubsequently read the value of this parameter, avoiding the per lineblocking limitation.

[0031] In a second embodiment, a different parameter is used inForward_Call response message for communicating the called telephonestation's DN. This parameter is the RedirectingPartyID. In thisembodiment, the SCP 106 places the CalledPartyID DN from theTermination_Attempt query message into the RedirectingPartyID of theForward_Call response message. The RedirectingPartyID has an associatedPresentation Restriction Indicator parameter. The SCP 106 sets theassociated Presentation Restriction Indicator parameter to presentationallowed. In this embodiment, the Forward_Call query message hasparameters specified as follows: CallingPartyID DN of the Calling Party(if available) CalledPartyID Lead DN from the Basic Rate Interface (BRI)connecting the CSN PrimaryCarrier 0110 (LEC) RedirectingPartyID DN towhich the TAT is assigned (Called DN from the termination_attempt query)with presentation allowed (overwrites redirection information that theSSP would normally provide) AMAslpID 008780000 (uniquely identifies aservice and indicates flat rate)

[0032] In this manner, the system and method according to the secondembodiment avoids the problems that arise when the called partysubscribes to a per line blocking service.

[0033] At step 208, the SSP 102 receives the Forward_Call responsemessage and originates a new call for the forwarded leg. The SSP 102merges the new originating call and the existing terminating call. Thatis, the SSP 102 bridges or reconfigures the call. At this point, the SSP102 routes the call as if it received an Analyze_Route message, usingthe CalledPartyID in the Forward_Call message to identify the new party.In the first embodiment described above, the CallingPartylD is the DN towhich the termination attempt trigger is assigned. In the secondembodiment, the redirecting number is the DN to which the terminationattempt trigger is assigned. The SSP 102 forwards the call to the CSN112.

[0034] At step 210, the forwarded call is answered by the CSN 112. TheCSN 112 is operative to generate an announcement that is transmitted tothe calling telephone station 118. One example of a suitableannouncement is “The party you are calling does not accept calls fromunidentified numbers. At the tone, say your name or the company yourepresent and your call will be completed.” The CSN 112 then detects aresponse. If the calling party provides a response, the response isrecorded as audible caller identification information for subsequentplayback to the called party. If no response of provided, the call isterminated.

[0035] At step 212, the CSN 112 originates a new call to the calledtelephone station 116. In the first embodiment described above, the CSN112 originates the new call to the DN found in the CallingPartyIDparameter of the Forward_Call response message. The parameter was set tothe DN to which the TAT is assigned. In the second embodiment describedabove, the CSN 112 originates the new call using the DN found in theRedirectingPartyID parameter of the Forward_Call response message. Theparameter was set to the DN to which the TAT is assigned.

[0036] At step 214, the SSP 102 recognizes that a terminating attempttrigger (TAT) is assigned to the called DN. Based on the TAT, the SSP102 creates a termination_attempt query message and transmits the querymessage to the SCP 106 for analysis. The parameters required for the AINrelease 0.1 TCAP query message in the illustrated embodiment are asfollows: UserID DN to which the TAT is assigned (Called DN)BearerCapability 01 (3.1 KHz) CalledPartyID DN to which the TAT isassigned (Called DN) Lata Local Access and Transport Area of the CalledDN TriggerCriteriaType 15 (Termination Attempt) CalledPartyStationTypeOriginating Line information of the called DN ChargeNumber ANI of theoriginating facility CallingPartyID DN of the calling party (CSN DN)Presentation Restriction 00 (Presentation Allowed)ChargePartyStationType Originating Line information of the calling DN

[0037] At step 216, the service logic of the SCP 106 will validate thePresentation Restriction Indicator of the CallingPartyID parameter ofthe query message. If the indicator is equal to Presentation Allowed,the SCP 106 will create an Authorize_Termination response message andsend it to the SSP 102. The parameters required for the AIN release 0.1TCAP response message in the illustrated embodiment are as follows:CallingPartyID DN of the calling party (CSN DN) ChargeNumber ANI of thecalling party ChargePartyStationType Originating Line information of thecalling DN DisplayText CNAME information

[0038] At step 218, when the called party answers the called telephonestation 116, in the illustrated embodiment the CSN 112 first plays anidentifying message and requests a keypress input. This ensures that ahuman is present to answer the called telephone station 116 anddistinguishes the case where a modem, fax or other equipment answers thecalled telephone station 116. If the called party accepts the call, theCSN 112 connects the original calling party at the calling telephonestation 118 to the called party at the called telephone station 116.

[0039] As can be seen from the foregoing, the present embodimentsprovide a system and method for delivering audible caller identificationinformation when standard Caller ID information can not be provided,even when a subscriber to the service has per line blocking. The SCPdetects the directory number to which a terminating attempt trigger isassigned and places this directory number in a parameter fortransmission to the SSP using a forward_call message. The per lineblocking function does not interfere with transmission of this parameterso that the called party's directory number can be passed for processingand call completion by the system.

[0040] It is to be understood that a wide range of changes andmodifications to the embodiments described above will be apparent tothose skilled in the art and are contemplated. It is therefore intendedthat the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrativerather than limiting, and that it be understood that it is the followingclaims, including all equivalents, that are intended to define thespirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:
 1. A method for processing a call from a calling party at acalling communication station to a called party at a calledcommunication station, the method comprising the steps of: (a)determining whether standard caller identification information for thecalling communication station can be provided to the calledcommunication station; (b) in response to a determination that standardcaller identification information can not be provided, transmitting aforward call message which includes an identifier for the calledcommunication station and a presentation indicator; (c) in response tothe forward call message, transmitting a request for audible calleridentification information to the calling communication station; and (d)transmitting the audible caller identification information to the calledcommunication station.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifierfor the called communication station comprises a directory number forthe called communication station.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein step(b) comprises: (b1) receiving a terminating attempt trigger messagerequesting completion of the call from the calling communication stationto the called communication station; (b2) detecting in the terminatingattempt trigger messaged a Called Party Identifier, the Called PartyIdentifier corresponding to the called communication station; (b3)placing the Called Party Identifier in the call forward message as aCalling Party Identifier; and (b4) marking a presentation indicatorassociated with the Calling Party Identifier as presentation allowed. 4.The method of claim 3 wherein step (d) comprises recording the audiblecaller identification information and transmitting the recorded audiblecaller identification information to the called telephone station. 5.The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises: (b1) receiving aterminating attempt trigger message requesting completion of the callfrom the calling communication station to the called communicationstation; (b2) detecting in the terminating attempt trigger messaged aCalled Party Identifier, the Called Party Identifier corresponding tothe called communication station; (b3) placing the Called PartyIdentifier in the call forward message as a Redirecting PartyIdentifier; and (b4) marking a presentation indicator associated withthe Redirecting Party Identifier as presentation allowed.
 6. The methodof claim 5 wherein step (d) comprises recording the audible calleridentification information and transmitting the recorded audible calleridentification information to the called telephone station.
 7. A methodfor processing a call from a calling party at a calling communicationstation to a called communication station in a telecommunicationsnetwork including at least one service switching point (SSP) and aservice control point (SCP), the method comprising the steps of: (a) atan SSP, receiving the call from the calling communication station; (b)transmitting a termination attempt query from the SSP to the SCP; (c) atthe SCP, in response to the termination attempt query, determiningwhether standard caller identification information for the callingcommunication station can be provided to the called communicationstation; (d) transmitting a forward call message from the SCP to the SSPin response to a determination that standard caller identificationinformation can not be provided, the forward call message including anidentifier for the called communication station and a presentationindicator for the called communication station, the presentationindicator being set to presentation allowed; (e) in response to theforward call message, at the SSP, originating a call connecting thecalling communication station and network equipment; (f) from thenetwork equipment, transmitting a request for audible calleridentification information to the calling communication station; and (g)transmitting the audible caller identification information to the calledcommunication station.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein step (g)comprises the steps of: (g1) after receiving the audible calleridentification information, originating a new call to the calledcommunication station from the network equipment; (g2) in response tothe new call, transmitting a termination attempt query from the SSP tothe SCP (g3) at the SCP, in response to the termination attempt query,transmitting an authorize termination message to the SSP; (g4) inresponse to the authorize termination message, transmitting a messageincluding the audible caller identification information from the SSP tothe called communication station.
 9. The method of claim 7 wherein step(d) comprises the steps of: (d1) detecting a Calling Party Identifier inthe termination attempt query; (d2) placing the Calling Party Identifierin the forward call message as the identifier for the calledcommunication station; and (d3) setting a presentation indicator for theCalling Party Identifier to presentation allowed.
 10. The method ofclaim 9 wherein step (b) comprises the steps of: (b1) identifying at theSSP a termination attempt trigger assigned to a directory number of thecalled communication station; (b2) formatting the termination attemptquery including the directory number of the called communication stationand a presentation indicator for the calling communication station; and(b3) transmitting the termination attempt query to the SCP.
 11. Themethod of claim 10 wherein step (c) comprises the steps of: (c1)detecting the presentation indicator for the calling communicationstation; and (c2) if the presentation indicator is set to presentationrestricted, determining that the standard caller identificationinformation can not be provided.
 12. The method of claim 7 wherein step(d) comprises: (d1) detecting a Called Party Identifier in thetermination attempt query; (d2) placing the Called Party Identifier inthe forward call message as a Redirecting Party Identifier; and (d3)setting a presentation indicator for the Redirecting Party Indicator topresentation allowed.
 13. A system for processing a call from a callingparty at a calling communication station to a called communicationstation, the system comprising: means for determining whether standardcaller identification information for the calling communication stationcan be provided to the called communication station; means fortransmitting a forward call message in response to a determination thatstandard caller identification information can not be provided, theforward call message including an identifier for the calledcommunication station and a presentation indicator; means fortransmitting a request for audible caller identification information tothe calling communication station in response to the forward callmessage; and means for transmitting the audible caller identificationinformation to the called communication station.
 14. A system forprocessing a call from a calling party at a calling communicationstation to a called communication station, the system comprising: aservice control point (SCP) operative to determine whether standardcaller identification information for the calling communication stationcan be provided to the called communication station and to transmit aforward call message which includes an identifier for the calledcommunication station and a presentation indicator; a service switchingpoint (SSP) coupled with the SCP to receive the forward call message andto initiate a new call; and a service node coupled with the SSP tocomplete the new call to the calling communication station to transmit arequest for audible caller identification information to the callingcommunication station.
 15. The system of claim 14 wherein the SSP isoperative to detect a called party directory number for the call, thecalled party directory number being associated with the calledcommunication station, the SSP communicating the called party directorynumber to the SCP.
 16. The system of claim 15 wherein the SCP isoperative to include the called party directory number in the forwardcall message as a Calling Party Identifier with presentation allowed.17. The system of claim 15 wherein the SCP is operative to include thecalled party directory number in the forward call message as aRedirecting Party Identifier with presentation allowed.